Sheffield's Magna Centre turns into Warmachine HQ from 15 to 17 May 2026 as Steamforged Games stages Lock & Load EU 2026, and this year's headline is a working prototype that lets you play physical miniatures against opponents on the other side of the internet. The Playseer team will be running walk-up demos of Warmachine XR all weekend, with high-fidelity holograms standing in for whoever you're rolling dice with online. If it works, it solves one of the wargame hobby's oldest problems: finding a regular opponent without driving an hour each way.
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Start organising for freeThe convention is the European cousin of Privateer Press's long-running Lock & Load events, and Steamforged has been running it since taking over the Warmachine licence. Friday evening kicks off with a livestreamed preview at 9pm, then Saturday and Sunday pile on tournaments, painting masterclasses, live sculpting seminars with award-winning sculptor Russ Charles, and lore sessions with Loremaster Sherwin Matthews covering the new Fane of Nyrro army. The onsite store stocks signed Core Books and exclusive miniature variants, including the Abraham Stormcraw show variant.
Tickets are still going on Eventbrite using the code LOCKEDANDLOADED, although several events have sold out. If you can't make Sheffield, Steamforged will be at UK Games Expo at the end of the month with the Frozen & Forgotten two-player set and demos at booth 4-413.
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Find events near youRunning a Warmachine night in your own area? You can list it on Backseat Gamer for free and pull in players who couldn't make it up north.
Sources: Steamforged Games | Warmachine Wednesday
